Does My Collection Reflect My Community? Diversity in the School Library

Panelists Sylvie Shaffer, PreK-8 Librarian, Capitol Hill Day School (DC)  (@sylvie_shaffer‏) Matthew Winner, Elementary School Librarian, Howard County Public Schools (MD) (@MatthewWinner, @ChildrensBkPod)

This Future Ready Librarians’ webinar takes a long hard look at the authors or curators of the literature in our children’s school library collections. This topic and inspection can inform our selection of diverse books in our communities. Their data features statistics about books received (3,500) and census estimates from 2015.  For example, in 2017 White Americans (61% of the population) were the authors of 85% of the total number of books published.  This leaves very few new books written or shared with the children’s book center (or school libraries) by marginalized, or other authors. Moreover, the books published historically have not been written by individuals from non-white communities.  The panelists further include important topics such as what is diversity, and what is the importance of diverse books in a homogenous population.  The popular topic of books as windows and books as mirrors is presented as more than just a connection to literature for the reader but as a literary journey, meaning “transform human experience”. To get started tips for analyzing classroom libraries and workbooks are presented. Simple audits are done by students in the classroom or with a scholastic book fair. The flyer provides real-time data and anyone can take on the challenge. Additional resources for staying engaged and informed about new titles and new authors representing various backgrounds include asking specifically for diverse books from publishing companies, reading blogs, joining diverse books campaigns, creating Symbloos with schools, reviewing electronic collections, making Padlets and so on.

Reflection: These are practical tips and suggestions for the librarian to consider.  Perhaps the collections policy needs to include a checklist, or better yet, the electronic analysis needs to highlight or give prizes to the schools that take the time to transform their collections to meet the standards we are seeking.  While I think it is important to reverse the trend and provide authentic literature from people representing all cultures and lifestyles, I do not want to have a diverse collection that doe not appeal to my young patrons. A further topic could be how to promote the titles once they are acquired.